Best Recruitment Agencies in Dunedin
We assessed 13 recruitment agencies in Dunedin and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 956 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 25 September 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Whether you need temp staffing, a permanent hire or an executive search, recruitment agency fees vary widely, and the best agency for a role depends heavily on their network in your sector. Ask about their placement rate for roles similar to yours, how long placements typically take to fill, and what guarantee or replacement policy applies if a hire does not work out.
Top 5 Recruitment Agencies in Dunedin
The top 5 recruitment agencies in Dunedin are #1 Platinum Recruitment, #2 Heights Recruitment, #3 Your People Recruitment, #4 Potentia, and #5 Adecco, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you hire.
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1
Platinum Recruitment
★ 5.0 150 reviews Top5 Score 1695★ 145 4★ 4 3★ 1Platinum Recruitment places candidates in roles across finance, general employment, and Dunedin-based positions, with consultants like Andrew, Julie, and Alicia taking an active, persistent approach to finding the right fit rather than filling a vacancy quickly. Candidates relocating from overseas, including from the UK, have been supported through the full process from before they arrive in New Zealand.
location_on 2/286 Princes Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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2
Heights Recruitment
↑ 2★ 5.0 98 reviews +4 Top5 Score 167 +35★ 95 4★ 3Heights Recruitment gets candidates into work quickly, with consultants like Sam, Sophie, and Luke taking time to understand what each person is actually looking for before making a match. Candidates regularly report a smooth, low-stress process with clear communication kept up throughout, from first contact through to a confirmed job offer.
location_on 469 Moray Place, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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3
Your People Recruitment
↓ 1★ 4.9 135 reviews +1 Top5 Score 1675★ 130 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 3Your People Recruitment matches jobseekers to roles across temp, permanent, and trial-to-permanent placements, with consultants like Mel, Leanne, and Robyn taking time to understand what candidates are actually looking for before putting them forward. Check-ins continue well after a role starts, with the team following up during trial periods and beyond to make sure the placement is working for both sides.
location_on Level 2/106 George Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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4
Potentia – Technology Recruitment (Dunedin)
↓ 1★ 4.8 158 reviews +1 Top5 Score 163 -25★ 146 4★ 4 3★ 1 2★ 1 1★ 6Potentia connects candidates to software and technology roles, with consultants like Jade and Hein spending real time on a candidate's background before making any approach, including mapping out backup options for complex situations like international relocations. On the employer side, they fill specialist vacancies that would be difficult to fill independently, with clear expectations set throughout the process.
location_on 469 Moray Place, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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5
Adecco Dunedin/Ōtepoti - Recruitment Agency
★ 4.7 105 reviews Top5 Score 160 +25★ 89 4★ 9 3★ 3 1★ 4Adecco places candidates into temp and permanent roles, with consultants like Brodie and Lagi following up throughout assignments rather than going quiet once a placement is made. Employers using them for temp-to-permanent hires report the transition being actively managed, with the agency keeping communication open on both sides until candidates are settled in their roles.
location_on 248 High Street, Dunedin
Before you hire a recruitment agency in Dunedin
Drawn from 158 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What do recruitment agencies typically charge in New Zealand? expand_more
Employer clients pay contingency fees of 10% to 20% of the placed candidate's first-year salary, with most permanent roles sitting between 12% and 15%. Senior, executive, or specialist technical roles can attract fees of 20% to 25%.
Job seekers pay nothing, and charging candidates a fee is illegal under the Employment Relations Act 2000. Anyone charged a fee by a recruiter can file a complaint with the Labour Inspectorate within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
How do I know if an agency specialises in my industry or role type? expand_more
Ask the agency directly how many roles in your specific field they placed in the last 12 months and whether they have a dedicated consultant for that sector. A specialist will know the market, understand your role requirements without needing lengthy explanation, and have a relevant candidate pool already built.
One reviewer noted their consultant had read their CV carefully and understood the depth of their experience, which stands out as a marker of genuine sector knowledge rather than generic placement. If an agency struggles to name relevant clients, recent placements, or sector-specific nuances when you ask, treat that as a sign they are operating as generalists and your role may not get focused attention.
What happens if the placement doesn't work out? expand_more
Replacement guarantees in New Zealand are standard practice, running from 8 to 12 weeks for most permanent placements and extending to 3 to 6 months for senior or executive roles. The guarantee will replace the candidate at no additional fee rather than issue a cash refund, and it is typically voided if the role changes significantly, the position is made redundant, or the employer's own conduct contributes to the breakdown. Because recruitment agencies in New Zealand operate under no specific licensing regime, guarantee terms are set entirely by contract, so read the service agreement carefully before signing and ensure the notice requirements for triggering a replacement are clearly documented.
What are the warning signs of a recruitment agency you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –An agency pressures you to accept a role quickly without taking time to understand what you actually want from a position.
- –Consultants go quiet after an initial registration and only make contact when they have a vacancy to fill rather than maintaining ongoing communication.
- –One reviewer reported being challenged over a medical certificate, suggesting a consultant prioritised the client's short-term needs over the worker's legal entitlements.
- –Promises of permanent employment are made verbally but are never formalised, leaving candidates in long-term temporary limbo.
- –The agency presents you for roles that clearly do not match your skills or experience, indicating CVs are being sent to meet placement targets rather than find a genuine fit.
- –Feedback on why you did not progress is withheld or vague, which prevents you from preparing better for the next opportunity.
What should you ask before engaging a recruitment agency? expand_more
- –Ask how they screen candidates before presenting them to an employer, including whether interviews, reference checks, and skills assessments are part of their standard process.
- –Confirm in writing that no fees will be charged to you as a job seeker, and ask employers to clarify the exact percentage fee and what services that covers.
- –Ask for the replacement guarantee period in writing, what conditions can void it, and how quickly you need to notify the agency if a placement fails.
- –Ask how long placements in your industry or role type have taken recently, so you can set a realistic timeline.
- –Clarify how communication will work throughout the process, including how often you will receive updates and who your primary contact will be.
- –Ask whether the consultant assigned to your search has specific experience placing roles in your sector, not just general recruitment experience.
Also recommended recruitment agencies in Dunedin
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Fluid Recruitment
★ 4.9 83 reviews Top5 Score 1565★ 78 4★ 5Fluid Recruitment places candidates into roles across accounting, healthcare, and specialist fields, with consultants like Eden, Tom, James, and Jason actively coaching candidates through interviews and staying in contact well after they start. Several consultants have visited new starters at their workplace or checked in on relocating candidates and their families to make sure they have settled in.
location_on Burns House Level 3/10 George Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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7
New Zealand Labour Hire Dunedin
↑ 1★ 4.9 63 reviews Top5 Score 155 +25★ 61 4★ 1 1★ 1NZ Labour Hire moves candidates from casual or temporary work through to permanent employment, with Hollie and Eric staying in contact throughout the process rather than stepping back once a placement is made. Candidates needing only a few weeks of work in the city have also been placed quickly, showing the agency is able to match people to short-term needs as readily as long-term ones.
location_on 44B Filleul Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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8
Tradestaff Dunedin
↓ 1★ 4.8 74 reviews Top5 Score 1535★ 66 4★ 5 1★ 3Tradestaff gets people into work fast, including walk-ins who drop by without an appointment, and has placed candidates in on-site roles within days of first contact. Beyond the initial placement, the team actively checks that workers have the right gear before starting on site and keeps in touch to find extra shifts when someone needs more hours.
location_on 35A Crawford Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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9
OneStaff
★ 4.9 61 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 60 1★ 1OneStaff turns around temp placements quickly, connecting candidates to short and long-term assignments across a range of industries while matching the role to what each person is actually looking for. Consultants like Tina, Danni, Sam, and Andrea are regularly named for staying responsive and attentive throughout, not just at sign-up.
location_on 8 George Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
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10
ALH Dunedin Labour Hire & Recruitment
★ 5.0 29 reviews +1 Top5 Score 147 +35★ 29ALH Dunedin fills roles at short notice for both individual jobseekers and employers running demanding projects, placing people into labouring and temp work across the Otago region. Consultants like Geordie, Hamish, and Sam are named repeatedly for following through on what they promise and staying available when problems come up mid-placement.
location_on 401 Moray Place, Central Dunedin, Dunedin
About this ranking
What the 10 recruitment agencies listed above hold, at the 25 September 2026 check.
We first assessed recruitment agencies in Dunedin in March 2026 and have rechecked the ranking four times since. Two different businesses have held first place; Platinum Recruitment has held it since April 2026. Across the 14 locations we assess recruitment agencies in, the 130 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.8, and one-star reviews are 2.9% of their total.
What has changed since March 2026? expand_more
- Aug 2026
- Jun 2026
- Apr 2026
Scoring method updated. Adecco entered the top 5, up from #8. Fluid Recruitment left the top 5, down to #6.
- Mar 2026
First check. Platinum Recruitment #1.
Latest check, 25 September 2026: no change to the top 5. Months where nothing changed at the top are not listed.
How are the top recruitment agencies in Dunedin chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for recruitment agencies in Dunedin. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for recruitment agencies in Dunedin. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.